Updated in October 2026, this City Botanic Gardens guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The City Botanic Gardens is Queensland‘s oldest heritage garden, on the Brisbane River in the heart of Brisbane. The gardens are open 24 hours a day, and the free City Loop bus (routes 40 and 50) stops in front on Alice Street. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the 24-hour access and the current guided walk times, which older guides may list differently.
Quick facts: the City Botanic Gardens
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Guided walks leave at 11am and 1pm, Monday to Saturday. |
| Ticket prices | Free entry ($0). Guided walks are free. |
| Address | 147 Alice Street, Brisbane City Qld 4000 |
| Nearest transport or parking | Free City Loop bus stops on Alice Street. Central and South Bank stations are a 10-minute walk. Street parking is limited. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 to 2 hours |
The City Botanic Gardens opening hours
The gardens are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The hours are the same all year, and the official website lists no seasonal changes.
Facilities and services have their own hours:
- The Gardens Club café: 7am to 3pm Monday to Friday, and 7am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday.
- Guided walks: 11am and 1pm, Monday to Saturday, except on public holidays.
- Information Kiosk: the start point for the guided walks and the place to collect the Treasures brochure.
Bookable park sites are available between 7am and 7pm. A booking is not needed to use the gardens for wedding photos.
5 Great Brisbane Experiences to Book
- 🛴 Sightseeing Segway Tour: Glide past the city’s most iconic landmarks and scenic riverfront paths on a fun, guided Segway adventure.
- 🐨 Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Cruise: Enjoy a relaxing boat trip down the Brisbane River followed by a visit to the world’s oldest and largest koala sanctuary.
- 🏝️ Moreton Island Day Trip: Head to the coast for an action-packed day of snorkeling through shipwrecks, kayaking, and sandboarding down giant dunes.
- 🧗 Kangaroo Point Abseiling: Challenge yourself by descending the iconic cliffs for a unique adrenaline rush and spectacular views of the city skyline.
- 🌉 Story Bridge Adventure Climb: Scale one of Brisbane’s most recognizable structures to see the city from a breathtaking 360-degree perspective.
The City Botanic Gardens ticket prices
Entry to the City Botanic Gardens is free. The gardens do not charge for walking, picnics or the playground.
- General entry: free.
- Guided walk: free. It lasts about one hour and leaves the Information Kiosk at 11am and 1pm, Monday to Saturday.
- Customised group walks: for groups of 10 or more. Book at least six weeks ahead by phoning Council on 07 3403 8888.
- Self-guided walk: free. Collect a Treasures brochure at the Visitor Information Kiosk.
Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
How to get to the City Botanic Gardens
The gardens are a 10 to 15-minute walk from the Brisbane city centre. They are next to the Kangaroo Point Bridge at the Alice Street entrance.
- On foot: enter via the Alice Street entrance at Albert Street, the Edward Street gate, the Goodwill Bridge and The Domain at Gardens Point Road, or the Parliament House entrance on George Street.
- By train: Central Station and South Bank station are each a 10-minute walk away.
- By bus: the closest stops are on Alice Street and George Street. The free City Loop (routes 40 and 50) stops in front of the gardens on Alice Street.
- By ferry: CityCat and Express CityCat services stop at QUT Gardens Point. CityCat and Cross River Ferry services stop at Riverside.
- By bike: use the Goodwill Bridge, Kangaroo Point Bridge or the Bicentennial Bikeway.
Plan your trip with the Translink Journey Planner.
Parking at the City Botanic Gardens
Parking is limited. Metered street parking is available on Alice Street, Albert Street and Margaret Street.
Disability parking is available inside the Edward Street gate and behind The Gardens Club. Enter via Gardens Point Road.
There are two drop-off areas: Gardens Point Road, off Alice Street, and George Street, off Alice Street.
Bicycle racks are at nine locations, including Queen’s Row near the playground, Royal Walk near the Edward Street entry and The Domain near the Goodwill Bridge. Bicycles can be ridden on the Riverwalk, a shared path that starts at the corner of Alice Street and Edward Street.
How long to spend at the City Botanic Gardens
Plan about 1 to 2 hours for a first visit. This is a planning estimate, because the website gives no recommended visit time.
The guided walk takes about one hour. A self-guided walk with the Treasures brochure can be shorter or longer. Allow extra time for the café, a picnic or the playground.
The gardens cover 18 hectares and have 1.2 kilometres of river frontage. The Riverwalk is a two-way path that runs from the City Reach Boardwalk, at the corner of Alice and Edward Streets, to Bunya Walk.
Accessibility at the City Botanic Gardens
The gardens list wheelchair access, accessible toilets and an accessible playground. The Baldwin Lawn Playground is designed for children of all ages and abilities.
Toilets, drinking fountains, taps and picnic shelters are available. Disability parking is close to the Edward Street gate and The Gardens Club.
Dogs are welcome on a leash. Owners must dispose of waste responsibly. The closest off-leash dog parks are across the river in Kangaroo Point.
What to see at the City Botanic Gardens
The gardens hold more than 600 plant species. They include rare plants and trees from Australia and overseas, and heritage species planted in the 1850s.
Themed areas include a rainforest and a bamboo grove. Visitors can walk around lily ponds and see colourful garden bed displays.
Weeping Fig Avenue is a fig-lined boardwalk from the Alice Street entrance path to the Riverwalk. The trees were originally planted in the 1870s.
Historic artefacts include a cannon from the early 1800s and Brisbane’s first drinking fountain.
The Riverwalk has a viewing platform and access to the City Botanic Gardens River Hub. The hub is part of the Council’s River Access Network.
The Baldwin Lawn Playground has a castle-themed fort with slides, viewing platforms and a climbing net. It also has a quiet play area and a sand pit. Riverstage, an outdoor entertainment venue on the river, is also in the gardens.
The Gardens Club café is in the heritage-listed Curators Cottage. It is dog-friendly, and the Wise Foundation runs it with profits going to the community.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | The guided walk leaves at 11am and 1pm, Monday to Saturday. It does not run on public holidays. |
| Crowds | The Royal Palm Lawn and the Baldwin Lawn Playground are favourite picnic spots. Riverstage hosts concerts and festivals, so check its events page. |
| Layout | The gardens have four main pedestrian entrances. Collect the Treasures brochure at the Visitor Information Kiosk. |
| Entry process | No ticket is needed. Walk in through any entrance at any time. |
| On-site logistics | Drinking fountains and taps are available. Bikes may use the Riverwalk. Dogs must be on a leash. |
Frequently asked questions about the City Botanic Gardens
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the City Botanic Gardens free to enter? | Yes. Entry is free, and the gardens are open 24 hours a day. |
| Is the City Botanic Gardens suitable for children? | Yes. It has an accessible playground with a castle-themed fort, a sand pit and picnic tables. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the City Botanic Gardens? | No. No booking is needed for entry or the free guided walks. Groups of 10 or more book a customised walk. |
| Is the City Botanic Gardens open on Sundays? | Yes. The gardens are open 24 hours every day. The guided walks do not run on Sundays. |
| Are dogs allowed at the City Botanic Gardens? | Yes. Dogs are welcome on a leash, and owners must dispose of waste. |
Things to do near the City Botanic Gardens
- Queensland Parliament House: next to the gardens, with an entrance to the gardens on George Street.
- QUT Gardens Point: the university campus at the Palm Avenue edge of the gardens, which also has a CityCat and Express CityCat ferry terminal.
- South Bank Parklands: across the river, reached on foot over the Goodwill Bridge. South Bank station is a 10-minute walk from the gardens.
- Brisbane city centre: the shops and Queen Street Mall are a 10 to 15-minute walk from the gardens.
- Roma Street Parkland: a 16-hectare garden about a mile from the City Botanic Gardens, with a rainforest walk and the Spectacle Garden.
Alternative attractions
- Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha: 56 hectares of subtropical gardens, 7 km from the city centre, with free entry.
- Sherwood Arboretum: a council-run arboretum of Australian trees with trails and a playground, in Brisbane’s south-west.
- Gold Coast Regional Botanic Gardens: 31 hectares of gardens at Benowa, 10 minutes’ drive from Surfers Paradise. It has a Mangroves to Mountains walk.
- Toowoomba Botanic Gardens: a heritage-listed garden in Queens Park, Toowoomba, about 90 minutes’ drive from Brisbane.
- Ravensbourne National Park: a bushwalking park with short scenic walks, 32 km from Toowoomba.
More Brisbane travel
Other Brisbane travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan your visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane.
- Guide to Old Government House in Brisbane.
- Plan your visit to the Queensland Maritime Museum and Museum of Brisbane in Brisbane.
- Why it’s worth popping into St John’s Cathedral in Brisbane.
- See the city from above with the Story Bridge Adventure Climb.
